Belgian action plan to reduce the risks and impacts linked to pesticides 2013-2017.

This Belgian Action Plan (NAPAN) to reduce the risks and impacts linked to pesticides is composed of the action plans of all involved competent authorities at national, federal and regional level, as follows (I) Federal Program for the Reduction of Pesticides (FPRP); (II) Flemish Action Plan for a Sustainable Use of Pesticides; (III) Walloon Plan for the Reduction of Pesticides; and (IV) Brussels Regional Program for the Reduction of Pesticides. Each of these plans contains specific actions and joint actions that are set up in cooperation with the other members of the NAPAN Task Force (NTF). Being all developed under the Directive 2009/128/EC of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides, many od the proposed measures are similar.
The FPRP aims at reducing, by all means possible, the risks and consequences of the use of Plant Protection Products (ppp), to be understood as pesticides, and biocides (disinfectants, wood preservatives, parasiticides, rodenticides, antifouling products, etc.) for human health and the environment, including a reduction of the use and placement in the market of these products if reduction of such use is the suitable means to realize a reduction of the risk. It intervenes on a series of thematic areas for which it sets objectives. The main ones of these areas are (i) certification of the know-how of professionals working with ppp; (ii) conditions for the sale of products; (iii) informing the general public; (iv) protection of specific areas against ppp; (v) using professional ppp; (vi) bee protection; and (vii) observatory for ppp and biocides.
To make agriculture more sustainable, main measures taken by the present Action Plans include (i) the issuance of the Phytolicence for all professional users, sellers and information providers on ppp for professional use; (ii) the provision of well-balanced information, online and not, to non-professional users about the proper conditions of ppp use and the risks for public health and the environment; (iii) extreme care in the management of ppp storage sites; (iv) monitoring the effects of ppp and biocides on bees; (iv) protect water against ppp; (v) create a more efficient monitoring strategy on the ppp use.
The Government of Flanders in its Action Plan (i) adds the promotion of the use of alternatives; (ii) explicitly mentions the protection of the aquatic environment (both surface and groundwater) and drinking water; (iii) the protection of particular vulnerable groups, such as children; and (iv) focuses on the importance of the Integrated pest management, suggesting to make general IPM principles mandatory.
As for the Walloon Pesticide Reduction Programme (WPRP) it aims at (i) renovate regulations on the management of public areas in order to eliminate the use of plant protection products ("zero PPP"); (ii) protect vulnerable groups in public and private areas used by the general public; (iii) improve the knowledge and tracking of the acute and chronic effects of pesticide use on applicators and on local inhabitants; (iv) amplify awareness campaigns for professional and amateur users focusing on the dangers of pesticide use; and (v) protect surface water and groundwater to reduce the percentage of cases where the thresholds of standards are exceeded.
Brussels Regional Program for the Reduction of Pesticides is a regional program aiming at reducing the health and environmental risks related to pesticide use, in particular by reducing recourse to pesticides and giving priority to alternate methods and techniques by both managers of public areas and private individuals.